Cigar-cutter.



Patented Apr. 16, I901.

n T T U 0 R m C (Application filed Dec. a4, 1960.

No Model.)

Iii/06711211.- 9M

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. WILLARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CIGAR-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,157, dated April 16, 1901;

Application filed December 24, 1900. Serial No. 40,956. (No model.)

To all whom it may cancer-71 Be it known that I, EDWARD A. WILLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oigar- Gutters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in cigar-cutters, and has for its object to provide an instrument for cutting one or more nicks or incisions in the suction or mouth end of a cigar at an angle to the longitudinal axis, in advance of the tip, so that the tip is left intact.

In cigar-cutters as heretofore constructed the knife or cutter-blade'has been so applied to the cigar as to entirely sever the point or tip either by a straight or a wedge-shaped cut. Both of these types of cutter are objectionable in that they cut away the wrapper, the binder, and the filler'at the tip, where it is desirable that the structure of the cigar should remain intact to preserve the form thereof. A further objection to the old types of cutter lies in the fact that with the tip severed a free exit is provided into the mouth for the nicotine and other juices of the tobacco, which always collect at the tip. My

improved cutter obviates these objections.

Its cuts or incisions do not destroy the seal at the tip and in no wise break down or loosen the wrapper, binder, or filler, for which reason there is no tendency for the mouth end of the cigar to partially unwrap. Furthermore, the tip affords a reservoir to collect and hold the liquid elements of the tobacco, which would otherwise find their way into the mouth of the smoker, and permits the cigar to be held firmly without danger of crushing the end or breaking down the structure.

The preferred forms of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cutter with reciprocating knives. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cutter-head. Fig. 4 is acrosssection on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of cutter. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cutter-yoke. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the cutter in closed position. Fig. 10 illustrates a cigar as cut by the particular forms of cutter shown.

Referring to the drawings, Figs. 1 to 5, a

represents a body or support preferably of cylindrical form, although it may have any prismatic form. The body is pierced by a lateral orifice with a flaring or conical mouth a, terminating in an annular throat a The sides of the body a are provided with two diametrically opposite V-shaped grooves or ways which intersect the conical walls of the mouth a, forming two opposite openings therein. Surrounding and sliding on the body a is a hollow shell or knife-head b, which is secured to the body by a screw b engaging a longitudinal slot a formed therein. The front and rear walls of the head b are cut away, as at b and b to leave the mouth a and the throat a unobstructed. A spring d, seated in a socket b in head 1) and surrounding a pin 11, mounted in the body a, holds the head normally in its retracted position, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Secured at opposite points to the inside of the head I) by screws 0 are two knives or cutters c, which have sharp inwardly projecting V-shaped edges. These knives conform to and work in the grooves a in the sides of body a and constitute the cutting elements. Normally the knives 0 lie in the grooves a below the opening a but when the head I) is moved upon the body a against the tension of spring 01 the knives 0 pass over the opening a and their cutting edges project into the mouth a. When the head has been moved to the limit of its cutting stroke, the rabbets c on the knives lie adjacent to and conform to the flaring walls of the mouth a, thereby leaving the lateral orifice unobstructed. In operating this form of my invention the tip of the cigar is inserted in the mouth 0, until the tapered end finds a firm bearing on the conical surface of the mouth, when portions of the sides lie in the openings 05* and project in the grooves a The head bis then moved along the body a,and the knives shear out the two wedge-shaped sections from the sides of the cigar,asindicated at w 00, Fig. 10. The cigaris then withdrawn and the head is released, when it is immediately retracted by spring (I. The depth of the cuts a: may be regulated by forcing the tip of the cigar into the mouth a to a greater or less distance. Although I have illustrated this form of my invention applied to a pocket or portable cutter, it is obvious that by inverting the device and attaching it to a suitable base it is equally well adapted for use as a stand-cutter.

In the modification shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 the body e is generally conical in form and is provided with a longitudinal orifice having a flaring mouth e and a constricted throat 6 The cutter-head comprises a yoke f, hinged to the body bya pin or journalf The outer end of the yoke is provided with cross-barf, which forms a finger-piece by which the yoke is swung on its journal. The other end of the yoke has angularly-projecting V-shaped knives or cutters, which normally engage transverse grooves e, piercing the walls of the body e and opening into the throat e. Adjacent to their cutting edges the knives f are recessed, as at f conforming to the flaring mouth e when the cutter is closed. A flat spring g, pivoted to body 6 by pin 9, bears at one end against a flattened surface ofjournalfithereby causing the yoke to lie along the body a with the sides of the yokefresting in grooves e and the knives engaging the grooves 6 as shown in Fig. 9. To operate this form of cutter, the yoke is grasped at f and swung away from the body, as in Fig. 6,the cigar-tipisinserted at e,and the yoke pressed down,forcin g the knives through the sides of the cigar and incising two V- shaped notches therein, after which the cigar may be withdrawn.

My invention is susceptible of many modifications and is not limited to the particular types of cutter shown and described.

What I claim is- 1. A cigar-cutter, provided with a recess to receive the suction or month end of the cigar, and a suction-passage cutter arranged in advance ot' the tip of the mouth end when in position, adapted to establish a suction-passage through said mouth end by severing and removing one or more lateral sections Without severing the tip, substantially as described.

2. A cigar-cutter, provided with a recess to receive the suction or month end of the cigar, and a scoring or grooving cutter, arranged laterally of and in advance of that portion of the recess occupied by the tip of said month end when in position, whereby the cutter is adapted to sever and remove one or more sections from the month end of the cigar laterallyin advance of the tip, substantially as described.

3. A cigar-cutter, provided with a recess to receive the suction or mouth end of the cigar, and a scoring or grooving cutter, having two cutting-blades,on opposite sides, respectively, of said recess, each blade being arranged in advance of that portion of the recess occupied by the tip of said month end when in position, whereby the cutter is adapted to sever and remove sections from the month end of the cigar on opposite sides in advance of the tip, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afllx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD A. WILLARD.

Witnesses:

CHAS. J. HENSLEY, ROBERT E. BLOOD. 

